See All Pepper Mills

Unicorn Keytop

*Est. $20

Reviewed

October 2009

by ConsumerSearch

Budget pepper mill

Pros

Turns easily
Large capacity
Good adjustability
Tough plastic exterior

Cons

No-frills design
No dust tray

Where to Buy

for $27.00

Our Analysis
Specs
65 Amazon Reviews

According to credible reviews, the Unicorn Keytop offers the most value of any pepper grinder. "Good for arthritic hands," an Amazon.com user states, and even with wet or greasy hands it's easier to turn than its highly rated sibling, the Unicorn Magnum (*Est. $30). However, it lacks a crumb tray. This grinder is made of durable ABS plastic, so it's unlikely to break if it's dropped, and it has a wide refill hatch and very good grind adjustability. Unlike the Unicorn Magnum or Magnum Plus (*Est. $45), the Unicorn Keytop has a sister mill for salt, the white Unicorn Keytop Salt Mill (*Est. $20). If you're looking for an electric pepper grinder that can be used with just one hand, reviews indicate that the MIU Electric Pepper Mill (*Est. $50) is an excellent choice.

We found the best review of the Unicorn Keytop at Chow.com, where chef Louisa Chu tests it. For a fuller picture of this grinder's performance, we turned to consumer reviews at Amazon.com. The site is full of praise for Unicorn pepper mills, which are said to be easy to use and clean.

Where To Buy

Unicorn KeyTop Pepper Mill, Black

(65 reviews)
1 New from $27.00

In Stock. Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping

Our Sources

1. Chow.com

Louisa Chu focuses on three pepper mills (the Unicorn Keytop, Peugeot Hostellerie and Elite Graviti) that have earned high ratings elsewhere. Unlike many reviewers, Chu considers real kitchen scenarios and discusses which mills are easiest to grip with greasy hands. The Unicorn Keytop is the easiest to fill of the three pepper mills reviewed.

Review: The Finest Grind, Louisa Chu, March 8, 2007

2. Amazon.com

At Amazon.com, many pepper mills have accumulated ratings, but only a few pepper grinders are rated more than a dozen times. The Unicorn Keytop hasn't been rated many times, but in the small number of reviews, it earns perfect scores. One owner says that her mother, who suffers from arthritis, can easily use this mill.

Review: Unicorn Keytop, Contributors to Amazon.com

3. SeriousEats.com

Contributors to this forum discuss pepper mills, but as with all such user forums, the discussion can be rambling and it's hard to glean much concrete advice. Still, this is a useful source with well considered personal recommendations for pepper mills.

Review: What is the Best Pepper Mill on the Market?, Contributors to SeriousEats.com

4. Chowhound.com

Like SeriousEats.com, Chowhound.com invites user discussions on a range of topics, including pepper mills. It's interesting to read these anecdotal recommendations, but there are no overall ratings or comparison reviews.

Review: Pepper Grinder, Contributors to Chowhound.com

Peugeot Chateauneuf Adjustable Pepper Mill *Est. $80

2 picks by top review sites.

PepperMate Pepper Mill *Est. $35

2 picks by top review sites.